By Rajiv Bisnauth

A DAY after Cricket Guyana Incorporated (CGI) released the 15-man Regional Super50 squad allegations of favouritism and nepotism are being levelled during the selection process.

At least this is the view of former president of the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB), Sheik Ahmad, who is alleging that the selectors have ignored talent and instead have given chances to players who do not merit their selection.
“This nonsense has to stop … the favouritism must stop. This has been going on for over four decades now and it must stop,” Ahmad lamented.

Ahmad, who served as treasurer on the Guyana Cricket Board and as alternate director on the West Indies Cricket Board, now Cricket West Indies (CWI), added, “Both Adams (Ricardo and Anthony), along with Kemol Savory, Ronsford Beaton and Keemo Paul are the most talented youngsters in Essequibo, but the non-selection of some of these players will definitely send a message to other cricketers in Essequibo.”

Ahmad, who served as a cricket administrator for over a decade, said while a substantial reason/s must be made public for the non-selection of both Adams and Savory to the Super50 squad, he entirely laid the blame on the current Essequibo cricket administrators.

“We need a wholesale change at the board level (Essequibo Cricket Board). In my opinion there is more personal interest rather than players’ interest. We need to have people who will represent the Essequibo players at the national level, not people who have a personal agenda,” Ahmad stressed.

Meanwhile, CGI in a statement said Paul will sit out of the tournament in order to facilitate adequate recovery from an injury. Beaton, who played in six matches the last season, before his action was reported and found to be illegal, seems to have cleared that hurdle as he recently played in an ICC-sanctioned US Open T20 Cup.

However, no official announcement has been made whether he is cleared to bowl.
The Jaguars would be led by Leon Johnson, with West Indies player Shimron Hetmyer his deputy.
The Jaguars will depart Guyana on January 30 for Antigua, where the tournament would be held from February 7 to 27.